Phil Housley\u2019s 66-point season in 1982-83 is the golden standard of what an 18-year-old blueliner is capable of. In more recent memory, Rasmus Dahlin (44 points in 2018-19), and Aaron Ekblad (39 in 2014-15) are the only defenders to crack 30 points. With seven points in nine games, Schaefer is on pace for 72 \u2013 which would not only be the most productive season by a defenseman his age, but one of the best outputs by a defenseman over the past decade, period.<\/p>\n
Is it sustainable? Probably not. But he\u2019s giving himself plenty of wiggle room to slack off a bit and still be one of the most productive first-year rearguards we\u2019ve ever seen.<\/p>\n
Between tournament action and the OHL regular season, Schaefer only played 30 games last year. Given how hard it is for someone his age to step into the NHL right away, the limited ice time last season should have made this one of the slowest transitions we\u2019ve seen in quite a while. Instead? Complete opposite. Schaefer is playing some of the most impressive hockey from a rookie in decades.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a small sample size. We\u2019ll see how he handles the grind of a full 82-game front<\/a>. But there hasn\u2019t been an obstacle too daunting for the former Erie Otters star.<\/p>\n Most NHL scouts knew Schaefer would be a star. He has all the traits of a successful, modern-day defender. His hockey sense is off the charts, he\u2019s as mobile as they come and he has the puck skills to decimate goaltenders. Schaefer shines when given more responsibilities, and it helps that he\u2019s as calm as you\u2019ll find. Nothing seems to faze him.<\/p>\n It\u2019s hard to be a rookie defenseman at his age. A young forward can lean on his other two linemates to help pick up the slack. As a defender, you\u2019re typically more vulnerable. It\u2019s why even some draft picks take time to develop.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not the 1980s anymore. Defenders can\u2019t be successful by simply getting in the way. They need to contribute with and without the puck \u2013 something the likes of Makar, Hughes and Hutson do better than anyone. Schaefer is absolutely in that conversation now. He\u2019s always scanning and looking to make the right play, and he can dominate offensively without sacrificing his defensive game.<\/p>\n Schaefer\u2019s exceptional mobility allows him to transition seamlessly in any direction, driving his offensive attack. He routinely rushes the puck with high-end speed, leveraging his elite hockey sense to let the play develop around him. Constantly moving, he aggressively looks to make plays at both ends of the ice. With the awareness and poise of a veteran, he\u2019s tailor-made to be a top unit power-play quarterback \u2013 something he\u2019s doing already. When you pair this elite-level skating with some of the best hands and decision-making available, you get as close to a perfect modern defenseman as you\u2019ll find.<\/p>\n Schaefer\u2019s willingness to aggressively attack and take away space makes him an excellent transition defender who consistently shuts down plays in the neutral zone. Doing that against teenagers is one thing, but Schaefer has done it against the likes of Matvei Michkov, Dylan Larkin, Macklin Celebrini, Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid.<\/p>\n \u201cThere isn\u2019t a challenge he doesn\u2019t seem fit for,\u201d said one scout. \u201cHe\u2019s forcing opponents to challenge his partners instead because they can\u2019t get a read on how to beat him.\u201d<\/p>\n Don\u2019t get it twisted \u2013 Schaefer has had his share of ups and downs. He makes mistakes \u2013 a few every game. Patience will come with experience, but he\u2019s already further along there than most defenders you\u2019ll find.<\/p>\n You can\u2019t teach confidence. You can\u2019t teach elite-level hockey sense. Schaefer has both of those in spades. Scouts have always applauded Schaefer for making quick, smart decisions. He can break plays out all on his own \u2013 something that scouts didn\u2019t think would be easily translatable in the NHL. From the get-go, even during the preseason, Schaefer hasn\u2019t backed down in a battle. The Detroit Red Wings recently found that out<\/a>. <\/p>\n You never want to overhype someone. The sample size is minuscule, but Schaefer has been a bright spot for a team that hasn\u2019t had many in quite some time. Schaefer might not have gotten the same hype as Connor Bedard or Macklin Celebrini, but missing half a season didn\u2019t help his case. Now, he\u2019s laying it all on the line against the best players in the world. <\/p>\n The Islanders could have easily sent him back to Erie to get 25 minutes a night, or even sent him to college to get stronger. But sometimes, the best education can be found on the battlefield \u2013 a head-on collision with danger. Schaefer\u2019s teammates, coaches and just about everyone who followed him the past half-decade know how fearless he is. <\/p>\nData from NHL EDGE<\/a><\/p>\n